Trends in traumatic spinal cord injuries in Estonia from 1997 to 2018.

Objective: To analyze time trends in incidence, causes and risk factors for traumatic spinal cord injuries (TSCI) in Estonia between 1997-2007 and 2008-2018.

Design: Retrospective, population-based cohort study.

Setting: Specialized trauma centres in Estonia.

Single session exercises and concurrent functional electrical stimulation are more effective on muscles' force generation than only exercises in spinal cord injured persons: a feasibility study.

Objectives: To evaluate impact of first therapy session, containing functional electrical stimulation (FES) and therapeutic exercises (TE) on erector spinae (ES) and rectus abdominis (RA) force generation in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: Five men with SCI were divided in two groups - FES+TE received concurrent FES on ES and RA and TE, TE only TE. Participants performed exercises for improving sitting balance and posture.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage: effect of CRHR1 genotype on fatigue and depression.

Background: Emotional health disturbances are common after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and their causes are largely unexplored. Corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1) is a key factor in stress reactivity and development of mental health disturbances after adverse life-events.

Methods: We explore the effect of CRHR1 genotype on mental health after aSAH in a retrospective cohort study.

Tumor-penetrating peptide for systemic targeting of Tenascin-C.

Extracellular matrix in solid tumors has emerged as a specific, stable, and abundant target for affinity-guided delivery of anticancer drugs. Here we describe the homing peptide that interacts with the C-isoform of Tenascin-C (TNC-C) upregulated in malignant tissues. TNC-C binding PL3 peptide (amino acid sequence: AGRGRLVR) was identified by in vitro biopanning on recombinant TNC-C.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage: Effect of CRHR1 genotype on mental health-related quality of life.

Quality of life (QoL) disturbances are common after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) both in physical and mental health domains and their causes are not clearly understood. Corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1) is involved in stress reactivity and development of mental health disturbances after negative life-events. We performed a retrospective cohort study of long-term QoL outcomes among 125 surgically treated aSAH patients (2001-2013).

The Effect of Functional Electrical Stimulation and Therapeutic Exercises on Trunk Muscle Tone and Dynamic Sitting Balance in Persons with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: A Crossover Trial.

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) has shown good results in improving static and dynamic sitting balance in persons with spinal cord injuries. There is limited information about how regular surface FES combined with therapeutic exercise (TE) affect dynamic sitting balance and muscle tone. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a six-week physical therapy program consisting of FES and TE on muscle tone and sitting balance in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Bi-specific tenascin-C and fibronectin targeted peptide for solid tumor delivery.

Oncofetal fibronectin (FN-EDB) and tenascin-C C domain (TNC-C) are nearly absent in extracellular matrix of normal adult tissues but upregulated in malignant tissues. Both FN-EDB and TNC-C are developed as targets of antibody-based therapies. Here we used peptide phage biopanning to identify a novel targeting peptide (PL1, sequence: PPRRGLIKLKTS) that interacts with both FN-EDB and TNC-C.

Peptide-guided nanoparticles for glioblastoma targeting.

Tumor-selective drug conjugates can potentially improve the prognosis for patients affected by glioblastoma (GBM) - the most common and malignant type of brain cancer with no effective cure. Here we evaluated a novel tumor penetrating peptide that targets cell surface p32, LinTT1 (AKRGARSTA), as a GBM targeting ligand for systemically-administered nanoparticles. LinTT1-functionalization increased tumor homing of iron oxide nanoworms (NWs) across a panel of five GBM models ranging from infiltratively-disseminating to angiogenic phenotypes.

Incidence and Mortality of Parkinson's Disease in Estonia.

Background: There is lack of data on the incidence of Parkinson's disease (PD) based on repeat studies. Mortality rates of PD in Estonia have never been studied before.

Objectives: To estimate the incidence and mortality rates of PD in -Estonia, to compare current incidence rates with those of the prior epidemiological study in Estonia, and to examine the reported causes of death of the study population.

Influence of alarming auditory cues on viscoelastic stiffness of skeletal muscles in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Background: Patients with Parkinson's disease can show brief normalization of motor activity in response to intense external stimuli - a phenomenon known as paradoxical kinesis. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of alarming auditory signals on the level of viscoelastic stiffness of skeletal muscles as an indicator of parkinsonian rigidity.

Methods: Myotonometry was used to determine the changes of viscoelastic stiffness of skeletal muscles in ten patients in an advanced stage of Parkinson's disease, treated with deep brain stimulation, and ten healthy controls.

Effect of Age on Substantia Nigra Hyper-echogenicity in Parkinson's Disease Patients and Healthy Controls.

Substantia nigra (SN) hyper-echogenicity (SN+) describes an enlargement (>90th percentile) of the area of echogenicity at the anatomic site of the SN in the midbrain detected by transcranial sonography. This ultrasound sign has proven to be a valuable marker supporting the clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Although there is considerable variation in the extent of echogenic signals at the anatomic site of the SN among PD patients, previous work suggests that SN+ is a stable marker throughout the course of the disease.

Impact of Blood Vessel Quantity and Vascular Expression of CD133 and ICAM-1 on Survival of Glioblastoma Patients.

Glioblastoma (GB) is the most angiogenic tumor. Nevertheless, antiangiogenic therapy has not shown significant clinical efficacy. The aim of this study was to assess blood vessel characteristics on survival of GB patients.

Factors associated with motor complications in Parkinson's disease.

Objectives: Levodopa is the most effective therapy for treating Parkinson's disease (PD); however, side effects such as dyskinesias and motor fluctuations may occur after some years of its usage. The aims of this study were to assess the frequency of and factors associated with motor complications among PD patients on levodopa treatment.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study carried out in 2010-2013, clinical data and treatment details were collected.

Prevalence of depressive symptoms and their association with brainstem raphe echogenicity in patients with Parkinson's disease and non-PD controls.

Despite advances in diagnostics and clinical recognition, depressive symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) exceeding normal limits remain effectively untreated. In this study, we report on the prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms as well as their association with brainstem raphe echogenicity in patients with PD and non-PD controls. The study included 266 Estonian PD patients and 168 age- and education-matched controls.

The effect of subthalamic stimulation on viscoelastic stiffness of skeletal muscles in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Background: Myotonometric evaluation of viscoelastic stiffness of skeletal muscles has been proposed to document the effect of surgical or pharmacological treatment on rigidity in patients with Parkinson's disease. The aim of the study was to analyze the changes of viscoelastic stiffness induced by deep brain stimulation.

Methods: Fifteen patients in an advanced stage of Parkinson's disease participated in the study.

A New Risk Factor for Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury.

Several behavioral factors such as violence, impulsivity, and alcohol-related problems are associated with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI). Such factors have been associated with inherently low neuronal serotonergic capacity that in turn is reflected in low activity of monoamine oxidase (MAO) as measured in platelets. The aim of the study was to characterize platelet MAO activity and impulsivity in persons with TSCI.

VEGFR-2 Expression in Glioblastoma Multiforme Depends on Inflammatory Tumor Microenvironment.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most angiogenic tumors. However, antiangiogenic therapy has not shown significant clinical efficacy. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of inflammatory tumor microenvironment on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2).

Placebo effects induced by auditory cues decrease parkinsonian rigidity in patients with subthalamic stimulation.

Placebo effects are the consequence of an interaction between an organism and its surroundings and may be influenced by cues from the environment. Our study was designed to analyze if conditioned auditory cues could trigger placebo effects and affect parkinsonian rigidity as measured by viscoelastic properties of skeletal muscles in patients treated with subthalamic stimulation. We found that after repeatedly associating with the effect of deep brain stimulation on rigidity, a common dial phone signal itself was able to reduce the mean values of viscoelastic stiffness in the placebo stage (368.

Substantia Nigra Hyperechogenicity: Validation of Transcranial Sonography for Parkinson Disease Diagnosis in a Large Estonian Cohort.

Objectives: Substantia nigra hyperechogenicity is a promising biomarker for Parkinson disease (PD). Substantia nigra hyperechogenicity has previously been established as a useful diagnostic criterion in several European and Asian patient cohorts. However, diagnostic cutoff values for substantia nigra hyperechogenicity remain unknown for most patient populations.

Headaches after traumatic spinal cord injury in Estonia.

Background: Patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) often suffer from different types of pain. However, headaches after TSCI have not been studied.

Aim: The aim of this article is to examine the occurrence of headache among patients with TSCI.

Impact of tumor infiltrating CD63 positive cells on survival in patients with glioblastoma multiforme.

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive type of brain cancer in adults. It is suggested that tumour microenvironment might influence treatment outcome. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of tumor infiltrating CD63 positive (CD63+) inflammatory and immune cells on treatment response and survival of GBM patients.

Impact of CD133 positive stem cell proportion on survival in patients with glioblastoma multiforme.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of CD133-positive (CD133+) cancer stem cell proportions on treatment results of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients.

Patients And Methods: Patients with GBM (n = 42) received postoperative radiotherapy (± chemotherapy). Surgically excised GBM tissue sections were immunohistochemically examined for CD133 expression.

Mortality and causes of death after traumatic spinal cord injury in Estonia.

Study Design: Retrospective population-based study with mortality follow-up.

Objective: To study mortality, causes and risk factors for death in Estonian patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI).

Setting: All Estonian hospitals.

Relationship between neovascularization and degenerative changes in herniated lumbar intervertebral discs.

Purpose: Lumbar disc degeneration may be associated with intensity of neovascularization in disc herniations. Our study was designed to evaluate how much the severity of histodegeneration is related to the development of neovascularization and to the level of pleiotrophin in the herniated lumbar discs.

Methods: Surgically excised lumbar disc specimens were obtained from 29 patients with noncontained (i.